Canadian women's soccer team ready for friendly with China ahead of qualifier
The two sides of coach Carolina Morace were on display Wednesday as she put the Canadian women's soccer team through its paces on the eve of an international friendly against China. On the pitch, Morace was a tough-talking drill sergeant, shouting orders to her players and demanding maximum effort.
Once the session ended, she seemed more like peer than coach, chatting casually with players and even joking around with them at a media availability.
It has been more than a year since the Italian took over the national team. The players have embraced her and seem excited about the future.
"She just brings such an energy," said goaltender Karina LeBlanc of Maple Ridge, B.C. "It's contagious and you just want to be around it. Every day we come to the field and we love what we're doing.
"We know that we're going to learn. She brings in a whole different philosophy."
Morace, 46, has a wealth of experience as a player and a coach. She scored 105 goals in 153 games with the Italian team and later served as captain and eventually head coach.
She said she's getting more comfortable with her new position and that the players have adjusted as well.
"Sometimes I need to have their attention and I have to get mad so that they are surprised," Morace said. "They have to understand that sometimes they can, sometimes they cannot.
"Sometimes you have to focus, sometimes you can laugh and be friendly."
Morace preaches a different style than previous coach Even Pellerud, who stepped down after leading Canada to the quarter-finals of the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
Gone are the days of relying on the long bomb. Now it's quick, short passes and a focus on building the play with an emphasis on ball possession.
"Everything we do in training is very European-based and we have welcomed it with open arms," said veteran striker Christine Sinclair of Burnaby, B.C. "We have all completely bought into it but it takes some getting used to.
"We have all been just booting the ball for 10 years. Now she wants us to pass the ball. So we're in an adjustment phase and we're learning."
It was definitely a learning experience earlier this month in Germany, as Canada dropped a 5-0 decision to the two-time defending World Cup champions.
The Canadians are confident they'll bounce back Thursday night in a friendly against China at BMO Field (Rogers Sportsnet, check local listings). Canada holds the No. 13 position in the latest FIFA world rankings, one spot ahead of China.
It's the latest tuneup in Canada's preparations for the CONCACAF Women's World Cup qualifying tournament, which begins Oct. 28 in Mexico.
The 27-year-old Sinclair, who has 101 goals in 139 national appearances, comes into the China game on a high. She scored twice in FC Gold Pride's 4-0 win over Philadelphia in the Women's Professional Soccer championship last Sunday.
She gives Morace a lot of credit for making her a better player.
"She's been tremendous for me," Sinclair said. "I've never been more confident. She's brought in a style of play that I want to play, that I love to play, that I feel I'm comfortable playing and suits my game best.
"She's just given a ton of confidence to the players, myself included."
Shortly after the China game, the Canadians will head to Alliston, Ont., for an 11-day camp as they make final adjustments ahead of World Cup qualifying.
Sinclair added the team is enjoying its training camp more and Morace is a big reason why.
"She's very loose, she's hilarious, the entire staff is very light," Sinclair said. "It's a great group to be around. And people — unlike before I think — look forward to going into camp now."
Once the session ended, she seemed more like peer than coach, chatting casually with players and even joking around with them at a media availability.
It has been more than a year since the Italian took over the national team. The players have embraced her and seem excited about the future.
"She just brings such an energy," said goaltender Karina LeBlanc of Maple Ridge, B.C. "It's contagious and you just want to be around it. Every day we come to the field and we love what we're doing.
"We know that we're going to learn. She brings in a whole different philosophy."
Morace, 46, has a wealth of experience as a player and a coach. She scored 105 goals in 153 games with the Italian team and later served as captain and eventually head coach.
She said she's getting more comfortable with her new position and that the players have adjusted as well.
"Sometimes I need to have their attention and I have to get mad so that they are surprised," Morace said. "They have to understand that sometimes they can, sometimes they cannot.
"Sometimes you have to focus, sometimes you can laugh and be friendly."
Morace preaches a different style than previous coach Even Pellerud, who stepped down after leading Canada to the quarter-finals of the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
Gone are the days of relying on the long bomb. Now it's quick, short passes and a focus on building the play with an emphasis on ball possession.
"Everything we do in training is very European-based and we have welcomed it with open arms," said veteran striker Christine Sinclair of Burnaby, B.C. "We have all completely bought into it but it takes some getting used to.
"We have all been just booting the ball for 10 years. Now she wants us to pass the ball. So we're in an adjustment phase and we're learning."
It was definitely a learning experience earlier this month in Germany, as Canada dropped a 5-0 decision to the two-time defending World Cup champions.
The Canadians are confident they'll bounce back Thursday night in a friendly against China at BMO Field (Rogers Sportsnet, check local listings). Canada holds the No. 13 position in the latest FIFA world rankings, one spot ahead of China.
It's the latest tuneup in Canada's preparations for the CONCACAF Women's World Cup qualifying tournament, which begins Oct. 28 in Mexico.
The 27-year-old Sinclair, who has 101 goals in 139 national appearances, comes into the China game on a high. She scored twice in FC Gold Pride's 4-0 win over Philadelphia in the Women's Professional Soccer championship last Sunday.
She gives Morace a lot of credit for making her a better player.
"She's been tremendous for me," Sinclair said. "I've never been more confident. She's brought in a style of play that I want to play, that I love to play, that I feel I'm comfortable playing and suits my game best.
"She's just given a ton of confidence to the players, myself included."
Shortly after the China game, the Canadians will head to Alliston, Ont., for an 11-day camp as they make final adjustments ahead of World Cup qualifying.
Sinclair added the team is enjoying its training camp more and Morace is a big reason why.
"She's very loose, she's hilarious, the entire staff is very light," Sinclair said. "It's a great group to be around. And people — unlike before I think — look forward to going into camp now."